Mauritanian presidential election scheduled for June 29

The first round of Mauritania's presidential election will take place June 29, with a possible runoff on July 14, according to a presidential decree published Saturday. Outgoing President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, 67, is expected to be the frontrunner, though he has not yet declared his candidacy, according to AFP. Ghazouani has governed the vast west African country since 2019 and brought a measure of stability to the Sahel region amidst a rising tide jihadism. 

Ghazouani has prioritized the fight against poverty in reaction to the economic slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. Last year, his party, El Insaf, secured a landslide victory in legislative elections, winning 107 of the 176 seats in the National Assembly, significantly ahead of the Islamist party Tewassoul, which took 11 seats.

Seven prominent opponents have declared their participation in the election, including the well-known anti-slavery activist and opponent Biram Dah Abeid, who was the runner-up in the last presidential election. The electoral campaign run from June 14 through June 27.